Immaculata sports receive new life

Leavenworth Regional Catholic School System's Board of Trustees announces that soccer, golf and tennis will be offered next school year.

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By Brent Lager

The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

By Brent Lager

Posted Apr. 1, 2013 at 5:29 PM
Updated Apr 1, 2013 at 11:06 PM

By Brent Lager

Posted Apr. 1, 2013 at 5:29 PM
Updated Apr 1, 2013 at 11:06 PM

Leavenworth, Kan.

It's official Raider fans — Immaculata soccer, golf and tennis have been saved.

Over this past weekend, the Leavenworth Regional Catholic School System's Board of Trustees announced through an e-mail "to faculty, staff, parents and friends" that it would be offering all three athletic programs next school year.

The future of the three sports had been in danger for little over a month now. Back in late February, it was released that the board was looking at eliminating the athletics for multiple reasons.

Budget concerns, lack of participation and lack of participating schools within its upcoming new conference were the reasons given.

The proposal was met with a large amount of opposition, which was voiced by more than 50 parents and students at two public forums on March 18. The next day the administration relayed the information to its Board of Trustees.

That same week, LRCSS interim president Karen Davis resigned her post and since a blanket of silence had fallen over the issue. That is, until Sunday, when the official announcement of the sports' reprieve was handed down from the system's board.

"All three sports have been added to next year's budget and as long as we are meeting our enrollment goals, we are going to offer all three sports," said Stephen P. Mulcahy, Chair of the Board of Trustees.

"The community has been very involved with being supportive with keeping the sports in play. As with any school, we want to keep growing that so we have enough people for the teams."

One of the initiatives created to help salvage the trio of athletics, as well as aid other areas of need within the school district, is the reformation of the "Green Machine."

This aggressive booster-style project is being led by Raider alums Kelly Reick and Aaron Hund.

"We had our first meeting two Sundays ago and had 40 people show up just from word of mouth," Reick said Friday. "This is idea more than just for athletics. It's a way to help make Immaculata more sustainable.

The club's purpose is to organize several fundraisers and events that not only help raise monies, but also recruit new members according to Reick.

"We want to show what Immaculata is truly all about," Reick said. "This is about more than just soccer, golf or tennis. It's the whole deal."

The group's next meeting is April 21, 6 p.m. inside the high school's cafeteria. For more information, contact Reick at kellyreick2009@yahoo.com.